LETTER
17th Annual Louisville AIDS Walk
Breaks Tradition, Moves To
2nd Sunday of September
Since it began in 1993, the Louisville
AIDS Walk has taken place on the
last Sunday of September. With
the growing number of fundraising
walks for various non-profit groups
in Kentuckiana and a plethora of
community events taking place in
late September and early October, a
decision was made to move the walk
to the 2nd Sunday of September. So
the 2009 Louisville AIDS Walk will
take place on Sunday, September 13.
Psychologist’s Resolution Underscores Harm Posed By “Ex-Gay Therapy”
On August 5 the American
Psychological Association adopted a
resolution stating that mental health
professionals should avoid telling
clients that they can change their
sexual orientation through therapy or
other treatments.
The “Resolution on Appropriate
Affirmative Responses to Sexual
Orientation Distress and Change
Efforts” also advises that parents,
guardians, young people and
their families avoid sexual
orientation treatments that portray
VOLUME 20, ISSUE 8 • AUGUST 2009
Kentuckiana Pride Shines With
The Louisville AIDS
Walk has a proud history
of heightening awareness
of HIV/AIDS concerns and
raising money to address
the needs of those in our
community infected and
affected by HIV/AIDS.
Thanks to the generosity
of corporate sponsors and
hard work of hundreds
of volunteers, 100% of the
Walk’s proceeds are distributed to
local AIDS organizations providing
critical services to people with HIV/
AIDS.
For a schedule of this year’s walk-
related events and other information,
including a downloadable pledge
form, visit www.louisvilleaidswalk.
org. You may also donate to the
walk directly through the event’s
website.
homosexuality as a mental illness or
developmental disorder and instead
seek psychotherapy, social support
and educational services "that provide
accurate information on sexual
orientation and sexuality, increase
family and school support and reduce
rejection of sexual minority youth."
The approval, by APA’s governing
Council of Representatives, came at
APA’s annual convention, during
which a task force presented a report
that in part examined the efficacy of so-
called “reparative therapy,” or sexual
Support For 2009 AIDS Walk
The 2nd Annual Rock for the Ribbon
event sponsored by the Kentuckiana
Pride Festival (KPF) will be held on
Saturday, September 12th. All profits
will be donated to the Louisville AIDS
Walk. The event billed as “dress to
impress” or “show your style” is a
casual cocktail and dance event. The
evening will kick off with live piano
music and transition to a DJ. There
will be light hor d’ouevres and an
open bar. Doors open at 8:00pm with
the party ending at 11:00pm.
This year's Rock for the Ribbon
will be hosted at The Event Company,
1001 West Main Street, 2nd floor. This
site is handicap accessible with prior
notice being given to KPF by (502)
649-4851.
Gary and Cheryl Loeser, owners
of The Event Company, have a long
history of being very supportive of
KPF and have been incredible in their
continued support of the Louisville
orientation change efforts (SOCE).
“Contrary to claims of sexual
orientation change advocates and
practitioners, there is insufficient
evidence to support the use of
psychological interventions to change
sexual orientation,” said Judith M.
Glassgold, PsyD, chair of the task
force. “Scientifically rigorous older
studies in this area found that sexual
orientation was unlikely to change
due to efforts designed for this
purpose. Contrary to the claims of
SOCE practitioners and advocates,
AIDS Walk since buying the company
in 2000. The Event Company's
founder, Ty Williams, who died of
AIDS, was one of the founders of
the Louisville AIDS Walk and their
annual service award bears his name.
Tickets will be $20.00 in advance
and $25.00 at the door. They may
be purchased from Pride Festival
members. For tickets and more
information write to volunteer@
kentuckianapridefestival.com or
call the KPF phone numbered listed
above.
For the second year, members of
the Kentuckiana Pride Festival will
roll up their sleeves and host the
concessions for the AIDS Walk on
Sunday, September 13th. Hot dogs,
hamburgers, chips and soft drinks
will be sold with all proceeds being
donated to the Walk. Concessions
will be open at 11:00am and will
remain open until the Walk begins.
recent research studies do not provide
evidence of sexual orientation change
as the research methods are inadequate
to determine the effectiveness of these
interventions.” Glassgold added: “At
most, certain studies suggested that
some individuals learned how to
ignore or not act on their homosexual
attractions. Yet, these studies did not
indicate for whom this was possible,
how long it lasted or its long-term
mental health effects. Also, this result
See EX-GAY THERAPY HARM on page 10
 deter
by th
homo
violen
by ot
system
Hom
becau
to sex
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays and g
prima
Coming out? Don’t face it alone! No
PFLAG is for more than just for parents, Hum
families and friends. We’re also here for you! this g
reduc
SUPPORT EDUCATION ADVOCACY in des
facilit
We meet the Third Sunday of the month at 3:00pm at work
First Lutheran Church, 417 East Broadway. Lon
Use the west entrance closest to the alley. medi
Questions? Leave a confidential message and CNN
one of our members will return your call. by Th
(502) 329-0229. Chica
visit M
10 The LeTTer www.TheLeTTeronLine.c

Bryan Gatewood
Attorney

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2 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009

Israeli Officials Condemn Shooting at
Tel Aviv Gay and Lesbian Center
Top Israeli officials, including the
prime minister and the president,
have strongly condemned the August
1 attack at a gay and lesbian center in
Tel Aviv, where a gunman shot and
killed two people and wounded 15
others.
As of press time, the gunman fled
the scene and hasn’t been caught
or identified. An Israeli police
spokesman said the shooting appears
to be a criminal attack, rather than a
terrorist act related to the Arab-Israeli
conflict. The two people who died
were Nir Katz, 26 and Liz Trubeshi,
17.
Said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu, "I would like to strongly
condemn the shocking murders that
were perpetrated… in Tel Aviv…We
will bring him to justice and treat
him with the utmost severity of the
law. I would also like to send my
condolences to the families of the
victims and my wishes for a quick
recovery to the injured…I would like
to take this opportunity to say to all of
AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter
Israel's citizens: We are a democratic
country, a country of tolerance, a
law-abiding state, and we will honor
every person regardless of his or her
beliefs.”
Israeli President Shimon Peres also
spoke out strongly against the attack:
“The shocking murder in Tel Aviv
last night is the kind of murder that
an enlightened and cultured people
cannot accept.”
In general, Israel has adopted a
progressive stance on gay rights and
has passed legislation to protect those
rights. Gay marriages, performed
outside Israel, are recognized by
the state, and same-sex couples are
permitted to adopt. In addition, gays
serve openly in the military. The
gay community has gained wide
acceptance throughout Israeli society,
including in the political, legal,
military and cultural realms, and the
city of Tel Aviv has one of the most
flourishing gay and gay-friendly
communities in the world.
3
 Efforts Move Forward To Overturn
"Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell" Policy
After a week of upsets for opponents the Civil Rights Act to include LGBT
of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (DADT), The Americans."
Ameriprise Financial helps you Power (www.ThePowerOnline.org), David Mixner is a major donor
an online campaign to include GLBT to Democratic candidates who was
stay true to your dreams. people in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, arrested in front of the White House
has announced new endorsements in 1993 after his friend, President Bill
from Justin Elzie and David Mixner, Clinton, broke a personal promise
two major figures in the debate over to him to lift the ban on gays in the
Ameriprise Financial has been a leader in the policy. They join Senator Kirsten military.
financial planning for the gay and lesbian Gillibrand, a vocal critic of DADT, Emphasizing the need for grass
community for decades. who last month also endorsed The roots efforts such as The Power,
As an Ameriprise financial advisor, I Power’s campaign. Mixner said, “With the ear of the
can help you plan to achieve your most The endorsements come after president, his goodwill towards
reports that the White House LGBT Americans, and the quick
important goals including starting your
pressured Congressional law makers stroke of his pen, I thought we
own business, adopting or just retiring in to table legislation that would have could open the door to full equality
comfort. I can also help you plan to meet suspended enforcement of DADT and by ending the ban on openly LGBT
your immediate needs with investment continue a pattern of GLBT activists, people serving in the military. Alas,
advice, estate planning strategies and thwarted by White House delays, we weren’t organized as a movement
financial planning with your partner. demanding full equality now. like Dr. King was. Our civil rights
Simply put, we believe in your dreams. I can Justin Elzie was a sergeant in the movement was overly reliant on the
United States Marine Corps in 1993 newfound inside influence we had.
help you plan to make them happen.
when he became “If you want to
the first soldier ever realize the dream
Ameriprise Financial is proud to be recognized
with another perfect score on the Human investigated and of an LGBT Civil
Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index. discharged under “If you want to Rights Act in your
the Don’t Ask lifetime, look not
Don’t Tell policy. realize the dream to Washington
Said Elzie, “I was
deeply saddened
of an LGBT Civil insiders,
to your
but
own
To start a conversation call (502) 244-4114 today. to hear that both Rights Act in your backyard. Look
Rep. Alycee to your family,
Todd Metcalf, CRPC® Hastings and Sen.
lifetime, look not neighbors, co-
Financial Advisor Kirsten Gillibrand to Washington workers, parishes,
Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM have withdrawn LGBT friends and
12700 Townepark Way their amendments insiders, but to your straight friends.
Danville Bldg. Suite 100
Louisville, KY 40243
to stop own backyard." Tell them to stand
pending DADT with you and put
(502) 244-4114 x 318
Toll Free: (866) 922-9708 investigations and —David Mixner their names on The
todd.a.metcalf@ampf.com discharges until a Power’s petition
ameripriseadvisors.com/todd.a.metcalf permanent repeal to expand the
is passed due to Civil Rights Act to
pressure from the White House include ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexual
and Democratic congressional orientation.’ Standing together, we
leadership. But even when we repeal are a movement. We have the power.
Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, under current Now is our time.”
law, LGBT service-members will The Power (www.ThePowerOnline.
Financial planning and investment services available through Ameriprise Financial Services, return to civilian life as second class org) launched a nationwide petition
Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC.
Ameriprise Financial cannot guarantee future financial results. citizens. This is why I am giving my on the 40th anniversary calling on
© 2008 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved. strong endorsement to The Power's Congress to expand the Civil Rights
petition to expand the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to include protections
Act to include "gender identity" for LGBT people. The petition
and "sexual orientation." I served as has already been signed by people
a Marine to defend the civil rights from all fifty states and thirty-six
and liberties that make our country countries. The petition’s launch
“I don’t mind straight people, great. Today I am now denied those moved Congressman Jerrold Nadler
same liberties as a civilian gay man. (D-NY), Chairman of the House
as long as they act gay in public.” As a civilian and a proud American Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee
I urge my LGBT sisters and brothers on the Constitution, Civil Rights,
— Anonymous in the armed services, and all who and Civil Liberties to announce his
support our troops, to demand an intention to draft legislation that will
immediate repeal of DADT and to include GLBT people in all federal
sign The Power's petition to expand civil rights laws.

4 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009

 LOOKING FOR OPPORTUNITIES
TO GET BACK ON TRACK?
YOU NEED A NEW PERSPECTIVE.
Learn about practical steps you can take now
to move forward with confidence.
Ameriprise Financial invites you to join us for a special event:
Understand Today, Own Your Tomorrow:
A New Perspective on Your Finances
Attend this complimentary event and learn how you can:
> Invest your savings safely and securely
> Manage everyday expenses and reduce debt
> Build up an emergency fund
> Keep your retirement goals within reach
July 23, 2009
Thursday, at 7:30
August p.m.
27 at 7:00 p.m.
12700 Townepark Way, Suite 100
Louisville, KY 40243
Space is limited. Please RSVP by July 17, 2009
Call (502) 244-4114 or email todd.a.metcalf@ampf.com
This is an educational seminar. There is no cost or obligation for attending.

Presented by:
Todd A. Metcalf, CRPC®
Financial Advisor
12700 Townepark Way, Suite 100
Louisville, KY 40243
todd.a.metcalf@ampf.com
ameripriseadvisors.com/todd.a.metcalf

Financial planning services and investments offered through Ameriprise Financial Services Inc., Member FINRA and SIPC.
© 2009 Ameriprise Financial Inc. All rights reserved.

AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter 5


www.theletteronline.com
Post Office Box 7842
Louisville, KY 40257
Founded in June 1990 by
Jeffrey Goldsmith &
Humphrey Marshall
EXECUTIVE EDITOR/WEBMASTER
ADVERTISING & DISTRIBUTION:
Dave VanderPol: (502) 332-4632
editor@theletteronline.com
HIV RESOURCES EDITOR
Brad Hampton
brad@friendtofriend.org
With an estimated readership of over 14,000,
THE LETTER is distributed throughout the
seven state region of Kentucky, Indiana,
Ohio, Tennessee, Illinois, & Missouri
REGULAR CONTRIBUTORS
Cubbie Britches Michael Kimmel
Mike Buford Bryn Marlow
Michael X. Chanak Brandon Monson
Marie Davis Beth Ann Rubin
Bryan Gatewood Brian Rzepczynski
James Hensley Tina Storm
Christy Ikner David Williams
Eric Jost Hazel Zimmerman
Publication of the name, photograph or
likeness of any person, organization, or
business in articles or advertising in
THE LETTER or on its companion
website is not to be construed as an
indication of the sexual orientation of
such person, organization or business.
THE LETTER assumes no
responsibility for unsolicited
materials submitted for publication.
THE LETTER reserves the right
to edit or reject any advertisement.
© 2009, The Letter News
All rights reserved.
SEPTEMBER 2009 DEADLINES
Press releases and Regional
Calendar items must be received
no later than
Monday, August 24, 2009.
Advertising reservations must be
received no later than
Monday, August 31, 2009.
All items should be sent to
editor@theletteronline.com.
6 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009
Obama Awards Milk, King High
Civilian Honors
President Obama has selected two
members of the GLBT community (one
living and one deceased) among those
to receive the prestigious Presidential
Medal of Freedom awards. Along
with familiar names like Desmond
Tutu, Stephen Hawking and Chita
Rivera there were two very familiar
GLBT names: Slain San Francisco
Supervisor and gay rights leader
Harvey Milk and athlete Billy Jean
King, one of the first openly lesbian
stars in the sports world.
The Medal of Freedom was
originally established by President
Harry Truman in 1945 to recognize
civilians who had "an especially
meritorious contribution to the
security or national interests of the
United States, world peace, cultural
or other significant public or private
endeavors".
Other honorees include:
U.S. civil rights leader Rev. Joseph
Lowery, who helped organize the
Montgomery bus boycott after Rosa
Parks was denied a seat; he later
co-founded the Southern Christian
Leadership Conference with Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr.
Joe Medicine Crow, native American
historian, the last living Plains Indian
war chief and "the last person alive to
have received direct oral testimony
from a participant in the Battle of the
Community Mourns Death Of Popular Gay Author Welcomes Kentucky
Members of the gay community black men on the down low - that is,
are mourning the death of E. Lynn men who are publicly heterosexual GLBT Christians
Harris. The popular gay author died
on Thursday, July 23 in Los Angeles.
He was 54 years old. As of press
time it is believed that heart disease
claimed his life.
An obituary in the New York
Times described Harris as "one of
the nation's most popular writers,"
and said: "Mr. Harris clearly tapped
a rich vein of reader interest with his
racy and sometimes graphic tales of
affluent, ambitious, powerful black
men - athletes, businessmen, lawyers
and the like - who nonetheless
struggled with their attraction to both
men and women. His books married
the superficial glamour of jet-setting
potboilers with an emotional candor
that shed light on a segment of society
that had received little attention:
Little Bighorn.''
Sandra Day O'Connor, the first
woman ever to sit on the United
States Supreme Court.
Sidney Poitier, groundbreaking
African American actor and the first
to be nominated and win a Best Actor
Academy Award.
Chita Rivera, powerhouse two-
time Tony Award-winning actress,
singer, and dancer who made her
fame as Anita in "West Side Story,''
and has broken barriers for Latinos in
a lifetime of outstanding work.
Mary Robinson, the first female
President of Ireland and the former
United Nations High Commissioner
for Human Rights.
Janet Davison Rowley M.D.,
geneticist, the first scientist to identify
a chromosomal translocation as the
cause of leukemia and other cancers.
Desmond Tutu, Anglican
Archbishop emeritus and the leading
anti-apartheid activist in South
Africa.
Muhammad Yunus, the Nobel Peace
Prize winner and economist who
pioneered the use of "micro-loans" in
anti-poverty campaigns to provide
life-changing credit which has become
the foundation of small businesses for
millions of poor individuals without
collateral.
Facebook Group
but secretly have sex with men."
Harris, who was openly gay but
who lived for many years in denial or
shame or both over that fact, was able
to draw on his own experiences to
make credible the emotional conflicts
of his characters, and his readers,
many of them women, were drawn
to his books because they addressed
issues that were often surreptitiously
pertinent to their own lives.
E. Lynn Harris was the author of
eleven novels, including Invisible Life
and A Love of My Own, and a memoir,
What Become of the Brokenhearted. He
placed ten consecutive books on the
New York Times bestseller list. There
are over four million copies of his
books in print.
Department of Justice: HIV
Discrimination Won’t Stand
On July 16, the U.S. Department
of Justice (DOJ) sent a clear message
to state licensing boards and
occupational training schools that
discrimination against people with
HIV will not stand. The fact sheet
issued by the DOJ informed various
institutions that preventing people
with HIV from entering professions
like barbering, massage therapy and
home health care assistance violates
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The new guidance came, in part, as
a response to requests from Lambda
Legal. The organization’s request
was included in a 15-point HIV
civil rights policy blueprint Lambda
Legal was key in developing for
the Obama administration's first
100 days. Lambda Legal and other
interested groups also provided
the DOJ with a list of several recent
examples of people with HIV facing
discrimination from state licensing
boards and training schools.
According to the DOJ fact sheet,
because HIV is considered a disability
under the ADA, any state licensing
agencies or trade schools that bar
people with HIV are in violation of
federal law. The fact sheet concludes
that it is safe for people with HIV
to work in these professions:
"circumstances do not exist for the
transmission of HIV in a school
or workplace setting, including
those involving massage therapy,
cosmetology, or home healthcare
services."
GLBT Christians
from around the
Commonwealth of
Kentucky are invited to
join a recently formed
group that is part of the
popular Facebook website
(www.facebook.com). For more
information about the group write to
Anthony at aransom01@roadrunner.
com. He will be glad to provide a
link that will take you directly to the
group’s Facebook page.
Know of other GLBT-focused
groups with Facebook pages? Let
THE LETTER know so we can share
the information with our community.
Information regarding GLBT-focused
Facebook groups should be sent to
editor@theletteronline.com.
 RegionalCalendar
sponsored by Mark England
Items of interest to the GLBT community are listed for FREE from non-profit community
organizations, support and social groups. We also publicize events sponsored by businesses and
professionals currently advertising in THE LETTER.
Please send details at least four weeks in advance of your event. Contact: Dave VanderPol:
editor@TheLetterOnline.com. Be sure type “Regional Calendar” in the subject line of your message!
3rd Sundays
3:00pm. Metro Louisville chapter of Parents, Family &
Friends of Lesbians and Gays. First Lutheran Church,
417 East Broadway. For more information call (502) 329-
0229 or write pflagmom10@yahoo.com. Confidentiality
respected.
Every Monday
7:00pm. Movie Mania at Gay & Lesbian Community
Center of Cincinnati, 4119 Hamilton Avenue. Free. For
movie titles click on the icon for the GLBT Calendar page
at www.glbtcentercincinnati.com.
Every Monday
7:00pm. Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus practice at Eternal Joy
Metropolitan Community Church, 2382 Kennedy Avenue.
For more information write DtnGayMensChorus@aol.
com.
Every Tuesday
2:45pm. GLBT Mental Health Issues Support Group at
The Recovery Center, 2340 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati.
(513) 241-1411.
6:00 - 8:00pm. Louisville Fairness Campaign Volunteer
Meet-Up at 2263 Frankfort Avenue. For more
information call Kyle (502) 893-0788 or write fairness@
fairness.org.
6:30pm. Triangle Martial Arts Association: Tae Kwon Do
training for GLBT community. Beginners & experienced
welcome. For location write: m_fearnow@yahoo.com.
7:30pm. Women’s Tuesday Night Coming Out Group at
Off The Avenue, 1546 Knowlton Street, Cincinnati.
(513) 535-2517.
Every Thursday
6:30pm. Support group for all persons coping with all
sorts of struggles. City of Refuge Worship Center, 1041
Goss Avenue, Suite 100, Louisville. Handicap accessible
from back of building.
1st & 3rd Thursdays
7:00pm. Gay Men’s Support Group meets at Metropolitan
Community Church of Louisville, 1432 Highland Avenue.
SAVE THE DATE:
Sunday, September 6, 2009;
Carla Wallace’s Lawn Party, a Fairness
Campaign fund raiser.
Details: www.fairness.org.
Mark England
www.LouisvilleGayInfo.com
Selling Louisville's Most DIVERSE Neighborhoods
AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter
INCLUSIVE
FAITH
COMMUNITIES
Central Presbyterian Church
Celebrating God’s Wildly Inclusive Love
4th & Kentucky Streets (Old Louisville)
(502) 587-6935
Church School: 9:30am
Sunday Worship: 11:00am (Nursery Provided)
Thursdays: August 13, 20 & 27 Pastors: D. Mark Baridon & Ann J. Deibert
7:30pm. Dave VanderPol facilitates a Single Gay Men's www.CentralChurchKY.org
Book Study. Featured book:Finding The Boyfriend Within
by Brad Gooch. Location in Louisville’s Clifton/Crescent Church of the Advent (Episcopal)
Hill neighborhood. Registration: $5.00, payable through No matter who you are, or where you are on your
PayPal. For group guidelines, exact location and other spiritual journey, you are welcome at Advent.
information write: editor@TheLetterOnline.com. 901 Baxter Avenue, Louisville (40204)
(Intersection of Cherokee, Baxter and
Saturdays: August 15 & September 19 Broadway)
8:00pm. Monthly meeting of Sienna, transgender support Sundays: 8:00am & 10:30am
group in Louisville. For location leave a message: (502) Thursday Contemplative Prayer: 7:00pm
894-1048. For general information about the group visit www.advent.episcopalky.org
www.tg-sienna.org. (502) 451-6066
Wednesdays: August 19 & September 16 City of Refuge Worship Center
6:30pm. Indy Bi-Versity, confidential discussion group. Come Worship Freely Our Lord and Savior Jesus
For more information, including the meeting location, Christ
write: indybiversity@yahoo.com. 1041 Goss Avenue, Suite 101,
Louisville (40217)
August 21 - 23 (502) 762-8986 / (502) 495-2603
Wrangler Round ‘Up Weekend at Timberfell Lodge, Rev. Randy Meadows, Pastor
Sunday Bible Study: 9::30am
Greenville, TN. For more information visit www.
timberfell.com. For reservations call (800) 437-0118. Sunday Worship: 11:00am & 7:00pm
Wednesday Worship: 7:00pm
www.cityofrefugewc.org.
August 28 - 30
Military Maneuvers Weekend at Timberfell Lodge,
Greenville, TN. For more information visit www. First Unitarian Church
Where Reason & Religion Meet
timberfell.com. For reservations call (800) 437-0118.
4th & York Streets, Louisville
(502) 585-5110
Wednesdays: September 2 & October 7 Sunday Celebration of Life: 10:55am
7:00pm. Crossport Crossdresser Support Group, Wednesday Chalice Night: 5:30pm
Cincinnati. (513) 919-4850.
www.firstulou.org
September 4 - 7
Metropolitan Community Church
Labor Day Weekend at Timberfell Lodge, Greenville,
TN. For more information visit www.timberfell.com. For of Louisville
A Christian Church Where ALL People Are
reservations call (800) 437-0118.
Welcome at the Table
1432 Highland Avenue, Louisville
Tuesdays: September 8 & October 13 (502) 587-6225
7:30pm Dayton PFLAG Monthly Meeting. 667 Rev. Dee Dale, Pastor
Miamisburg-Centerville Road (Centerville). For more Sunday Morning Worship: 10:30am
information call (937) 640-3333. Wednesday Evening Worship: 6:00pm
www.mcclouisville.org
Tuesdays: September 8 & October 13
7:00pm. Cincinnati PFLAG meeting. Mount Auburn Progressive Pathways Fellowship
Presbyterian Church, 103 William Howard Taft Road. For What Path Calls You?
more information call (513) 513-721-7900. Mellwood Arts & Entertainment
Center / #208 1/2
1860 Mellwood Avenue, Louisville (40206)
Sunday Worship & Education: 5:30pm
Wednesday Book Chat: 6:15pm
www.progressivepathways.org
Inclusive Faith Communities listings
are welcome from congregations
throughout the six state region served
by THE LETTER. Pre-paid listings
cost $80.00 for six months or $140.00
for one year. For more information
write editor@theletteronline.com.
7
 Treatment of Lesbian Couple at Fundraiser
Christian Musician Deemed “Insulting” & “Illegal”
Seeking Relationship Lambda Legal has delivered a stern
warning to Lions Club International
charging that the treatment a lesbian
instead of recognizing our committed
relationship," said Tina Corriere-
Gooch.

I
am a 27 year old Christian who
is gay. I’m seeking friends, a
date, and/or someone looking
for a mature relationship.
I am not interested in hookups or
one night flings, but seek the one
whose interest lies in meeting a new
friend, carrying good conversation,
and/or being in a mature long term
relationship.
I graduated with a B.A. in Music
and a minor in communication at the
University of Louisville. I love to sing,
compose, record, play keyboards,
guitars and hang out with friends.
Music is my life! I am currently working
on my masters in choral education at
Morehead State University. I am goal
oriented, and my friends tell me that
I am a outgoing and sociable person.
I do recording studio work, as well as
sequence music beds for commercial,
theater, and production clients.
I am a contemporary worship
director for two churches in
Louisville.
Sometimes I love to get away and
be with nature. I enjoy exploring paths
in parks and walking through the
mountains. I also enjoy sitting on the
beach late at nigh and look up to the
starry sky being thankful for such a
beautiful world we live in.
As a Christian who is gay, I am
saddened that so many same-sex
oriented people are skewed away
from church activities, since not all
churches are judgmental. I believe in
God and love people for who they are.
To respond to this ad write
anthony@theletteronline.com.
couple received at a club-sponsored
Oregon catfish derby violates state
anti-discrimination laws.
On May 22,Angela and Tina Corriere-
Gooch attended a Huntington,
Oregon catfish derby with their
family. As the group approached the
registration area that evening, a club
representative explained that the
event pricing included a discount for
couples and added, "but none of this
boy-boy, girl-girl couples crap." When
another man in the room suggested
that Angela and Tina should be given
the discount if they could document
their relationship status, the club
representative stated that this is how
the club has "always done it," and that
the club had no intention of changing
its policy. Adding insult to injury,
the Corriere-Gooches’ young nieces
and their boyfriends were given the
"couples" discount, while Angela
and Tina both were charged the full
admission price.
"It’s insulting and degrading that
the club treated us like strangers,
"It’s not just insulting; it’s illegal,"
said Tara Borelli, the Lambda Legal
staff attorney who drafted the letter.
"Oregon’s public accommodations
anti-discrimination law expressly
prohibits discrimination based on
sexual orientation and sex, and
Angela and Tina were denied equal
accommodations on both of those
grounds. The Lions Club needs to
make sure its clubs are aware of
states’ antidiscrimination laws, and in
fact, follow the club’s own guidelines
which include, in its own words,
'fostering a spirit of understanding
among people and taking an active
interest in the social and moral welfare
of the whole community.'"
The Corriere-Gooches are requesting
that all Oregon Lions clubs receive
notice of their anti-discrimination
obligations under Oregon law, a
meaningful plan to ensure that clear
notice is provided specifically to
Huntington, Oregon Lions Club
members, and a written apology.

Safety Suggestions Gay Basketball Team Seeks New Players

The Indiana Spartans, an Indianapolis-based gay basketball team is looking
Make no mistake: Hate Crimes still happen – even in our region! for new players. This established team is seeking for men who range in height
The Discrimination Response Team at  Louisville's Fairness from 5'9" to 6'7" and are available to play in local and out-of-town games. The
Campaign offers the following safety suggestions appropriate for team travels to several major cities, including Chicago, Memphis, and San
any time you head out to area bars: Diego.
For more information visit the team's website: indianaspartans.webs.com, or
Stay Alert—Awareness is your best self-defense. write to williamindn1@aol.com or metcalfeshawn@hotmail.com.
Watch Your Drink -- Make sure you know the person who is
buying your drink, or buy your own. Watch your drink if you
lay it down. Remember that drugs can be easily slipped into your
glass!
Trust Your Instincts—If you think something is wrong, believe
your feelings and remove yourself from the situation.
Project Confidence—While out walking, move like you know
where you're going and keep your head up and look around.
Carry A Whistle— Carry it on your person where it is easily
accessible, like a jacket pocket or on your key chain. When you
need help, blow the whistle. If you hear a whistle and see someone
is in trouble, call 911 immediately.
Remember to report all hate crimes! To give a confidential report
about hate crimes in the metro Louisville area write: fairness@
fairness.org.

8 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009

 COMMUNITY PHOTO GALLERY

Several dozen
supporters of GLBT
equality were in
attendance at Fairness
Over Louisville, a
fundraiser for the
Fairness Campaign.
The cocktail party took
place on Saturday,
July 18 at the top of the
Hyatt Regency Hotel.
[Pictures provided by
Fairness Campaign.]

AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter 9

Tennessee & Ohio Colleges Make Unique Top 10 List
by Joey Leslie, Out & About Newspaper
The popular queer website Gay.com
has named the Top 10 Gay-Friendly
College Football Schools and one
Tennessee University made the list,
along with one located in Ohio.
Middle Tennessee State University
(MTSU) in Murfreesboro was ranked
the number nine most gay-friendly
campus in the country on football
game day based on the school's
openness to give gays the "opportunity
to ‘branch out’ and enjoy the electric
football scenery."
"This school makes the list because
of its progressive nature trapped by
the surroundings of rural Tennessee,"
the website states. "There is no secret
that gays entrench the campus of
Middle Tennessee State. The school’s
small fan base, along with its relative
close location to Nashville makes
this a prime destination for any fan
wanting to see a traditional college
football game without the crowd
mayhem."
Brandon Thomas, vice president
of MTSU's gay-straight alliance, MT
Lambda Association, said he was
somewhat surprised that his school
10 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009
made the list.
"I wouldn’t say MTSU is
'entrenched' with gay people as the
article suggests, but I would say that
MTSU students as a whole are more
progressive when it comes to issues
dealing with equality and could care
less about who you are attracted to,"
Thomas said. "The fact that the school
was founded in 1911, during the
progressive era seems to stick with the
school almost a hundred years later.
There is a gay-friendly atmosphere
on campus so I could only imagine
that any event that is an extension of
MTSU would also have a gay-friendly
atmosphere."
Thomas said he has seen same-sex
couples holding hands as they walk
the MTSU campus and has yet to have
any "major problems" on campus
himself.
"Sure, MT Lambda has had a few
words and glares thrown at us when
we tabled for marriage equality, but
those people are few and far between
on campus," Thomas said.
Likely boosting MTSU up gay.com's
list, the article references a 2006 event
that made headlines when two male
fans kissed in an opening shot of a
televised ESPN broadcast.
The list includes five schools from
the Pacific-10 conference, two schools
from the Big Ten and Sun Belt, and
one university from the Atlantic Coast
Conference including:
1) University of Southern California
2) University of California, Los resolution, “Appropriate Therapeutic
Angeles
3) Ohio State University
4) Stanford University
5) University of California, Berkeley
6) University of Michigan
7) Duke University
8) University of Oregon
9) Middle Tennessee State
10) Florida International.
[©2009 Out & About Newspaper
All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with
permission.]
EX-GAY THERAPY HARM cont'd from pg 1
was much less likely to be true for
people who started out only attracted
to people of the same sex.”
Based on this review, the task force
recommended that mental health
professionals avoid misrepresenting
the efficacy of sexual orientation change
efforts when providing assistance to
people distressed about their own or
others’ sexual orientation.
APA appointed the six-member Task
Force on Appropriate Therapeutic
Responses to Sexual Orientation in
2007 to review and update APA’s 1997
Responses to Sexual Orientation,”
and to generate a report. APA was
concerned about ongoing efforts
to promote the notion that sexual
orientation can be changed through
psychotherapy or approaches that
mischaracterize homosexuality as a
mental disorder.
The task force examined the peer-
reviewed journal articles in English
from 1960 to 2007, which included
83 studies. Most of the studies were
conducted before 1978, and only a
few had been conducted in the last
10 years. The group also reviewed the
See EX-GAY THERAPY HARM on page 11
Inclusive Employment Non-
Discrimination Act Introduced
The Transgender Law Center
has extended words of thanks to
U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (OR-D),
Susan Collins (ME-R), Olympia
Snowe (ME-R), and Edward M.
Kennedy (MA-D) for introducing
an inclusive Employment Non-
Discrimination Act (ENDA), which
would protect lesbian, gay, bisexual,
and transgender employees from
workplace discrimination. The bill,
which enjoys bipartisan support
in Congress, would add sexual
orientation and gender identity to
existing federal employment non-
discrimination laws.
“ENDA is an important step
in securing basic rights for all
Americans, and will ensure that all
people, regardless of their sexual
orientation or gender identity, will be
treated fairly in the workplace,” said
Masen Davis, Executive Director of
the Transgender Law Center.
Currently, California and 11 other
states have non-discrimination
protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual
and transgender (LGBT) workers.
According to numerous surveys, large
majorities of likely voters in the U.S.
support federal employment non-
discrimination laws to protect LGBT
people. Polling data from 2006 shows
that voters are more likely to support
a candidate who votes for LGBT anti-
EX-GAY THERAPY HARM cont'd from pg 10
recent literature on the psychology of
sexual orientation.
“Unfortunately, much of the research
in the area of sexual orientation
change contains serious design flaws,”
Glassgold said. “Few studies could be
considered methodologically sound
and none systematically evaluated
potential harms.”
As to the issue of possible harm,
the task force was unable to reach any
conclusion regarding the efficacy or
safety of any of the recent studies of
SOCE: "There are no methodologically
sound studies of recent SOCE that
would enable the task force to make a
definitive statement about whether or
not recent SOCE is safe or harmful and
for whom," according to the report.
“Without such information,
psychologists cannot predict the
impact of these treatments and
need to be very cautious, given that
some qualitative research suggests
AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter
discrimination laws than candidates
who do not.
Passage of ENDA is critical given
the high rates of employment
discrimination facing transgender
employees. The Transgender Law
Center’s 2008 CA Transgender
Economic Health Survey found
that almost 70% of working-age
transgender Californians experienced
discrimination in the workplace,
including 30% who reported that they
have been unemployed as a direct
result of being transgender or gender
non-conforming. The same survey
found that transgender respondents
were twice as likely to have a college
degree as the average California.
As a member of the steering
committee of the United ENDA August 14 - 16
coalition, the Transgender Law Center Mr. Timberfell
has been working since 2007 to educate Competition
California policymakers about the
August 21 - 23
economic needs of transgender
Wrangler Round
people and the importance of federal ‘Up Weekend
employment protections. Cowboys In The Woods!
“We urge Congress to take speedy
action to put this bill on the President’s August 28 - 30
desk,” said Davis. “Discrimination Military
has no place in today’s workplace. All Maneuvers Weekend
employees deserve to be judged on We Love Our
Men In Uniform!
their merits and the skills they bring
to the workforce – not by their sexual
September 4 - 7
orientation or gender identity.” Labor Day Weekend
Book early to
get your room
or RV spot of choice!
the potential for harm,” Glassgold
said. “Practitioners can assist clients
through therapies that do not attempt
to change sexual orientation, but
rather involve acceptance, support and
identity exploration and development
without imposing a specific identity
outcome.”
As part of its report, the task force
identified that some clients seeking to
change their sexual orientation may
be in distress because of a conflict
between their sexual orientation
and religious beliefs. The task force
recommended that licensed mental
health care providers treating such
clients help them “explore possible
life paths that address the reality of
their sexual orientation, reduce the
stigma associated with homosexuality,
respect the client’s religious beliefs,
and consider possibilities for a
religiously and spiritually meaningful
and rewarding life.”
11
12 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009
 Peace, Love and Wellness

Highland Chiropractic
www.HighlandChiropractic.com

502-454-5000
1525 Bardstown Road, Louisville
One block south of Eastern Parkway

AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter 13

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14 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009

RADICAL SERENITY
Does Kentuckiana REALLY Need A GLBT Community Center?
I have an acquaintance, a member
of Louisville’s gay community, who
has begged me for several years to do
more to encourage the establishment
of a GLBT community center to serve
Kentuckiana.
At the prodding of my acquaintance,
I organized three community meetings
several years ago that were designed
to determine the level of interest
for such a facility. Those meetings
averaged 25 in
attendance and
resulted in the
election of seven
board members
who were charged
to raise money and
do the paperwork
and the legwork
to make such a
center a reality.
After these folks
were elected, they
never again met.
Why? I think they
all finally figured
out that none
of them had the Carla Wallace
financial resources
to be a “sugar momma/daddy” for
a community center. Without such a
person on the board, it would have
been too much work to raise the
money to make the center a reality.
Then again, the fellow who pushed
me to host the community meetings
never attended any of them (I know
what he must have been thinking:
“Let everyone else donate the
money and do all the work to make
this happen while I wait to reap
the benefit of their efforts”). Half-
hearted commitment to establishing
a community center reminds me of
the line from 12 Step literature that
warns, “Half measures availed us
nothing.” Indeed.
But that isn’t all I have to tell you
about my gay acquaintance who
(supposedly) desperately wanted a
community center established in his
hometown. One of the first times he
approached me on this subject, he
stated that he did NOT want “any
of those lesbians from the Fairness
Campaign involved” because, “well
you know how they are.” (I’ll bet
Chris Hartman and Kyle Riggs will
AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter
by Dave VanderPol, Executive Editor
be shocked to learn that they are as being “welcoming and affirming” “want”? Yes. But NOT a “need.”
“lesbians” – Oh wait, they weren’t of GLBT persons. These churches Identifying and meeting our “needs”
working at the Fairness Campaign gladly provide meeting space to GLBT as a community should be a higher
when my sexist acquaintance made community groups at a reasonable priority than working to meet our
his uncharitable remark). fee. Don’t want to meet in a facility “wants”.
If you want a community center owned by a religious community? When the day comes that it
that doesn’t earnestly welcome ALL You won’t find a more gay-friendly makes sense to have another GLBT
of the community to be part of it, it is and affordable facility to host an Community Center in Louisville
not really a community center. It is event than the Mellwood Arts and (yes Louisville had a community
actually nothing more than a “Clique Entertainment Center, which is home center that, due to a lack of broad-
Center.” According to the dictionary, to the queer-friendly Progressive based community support, stayed
a clique is nothing Pathways Fellowship and has been open for only a few years back in the
more than “a the site of several GLBT fund raisers 1980’s), then I’d like to see it named
small exclusive over the past few years. Several in honor of “one of those Fairness
group of friends hotels in the metro area also have a Campaign lesbians”. I’m speaking
or associates”. track record of renting meeting space of none other than Carla Wallace!
It takes a to gay organizations. She has proven herself to be
community to keep Sure, I would like to see the inclusive, visionary and courageous
a “community establishment of a GLBT community in her work on behalf of civil rights
center” running. center in the Kentuckiana region, for the GLBT community and
Cliques don’t either in Louisville or across the river people of color. I could be a proud
have enough in nearby southeastern Indiana. But supporter of the Carla Wallace
resources to keep this isn’t a priority when neither GLBT Community Center!
such a facility Kentucky nor Indiana has statewide These are my opinions. Your
in business. Fairness legislation in place. We mileage may vary.
Successful GLBT also can’t honestly claim that we
community have a lack of affordable meeting Agree or disagree, Dave VanderPol
centers around facilities to host community events. would love to know your thoughts on a
the United States So I must ask, “Why is establishing GLBT community center for Kentuckiana:
are big on being a community center a pressing editor@theletteronline.com.
inclusive. They have to be in order to need?” I don’t believe that it is. A
keep their doors open. The last time I
checked “exclusive” and “inclusive”
were not compatible concepts.
The thought of a true Community
Center appeals to me. I have no
interest in promoting a Clique Center
for Kentuckiana.
If some “sugar momma/daddy”
has a wad of money they are just
itching to drop on a truly worthy
GLBT cause, I suggest they make a
donation to the Kentucky Fairness
Alliance as that organization works to
make statewide Fairness protection in
employment, public accommodations
and housing the law for all of the
Commonwealth (not just select
major cities). Establishing Fairness
for ALL Kentuckians is a higher
priority for me than establishing a
GLBT community center for Metro
Louisville.
Please note that we do not need
a GLBT community center in
Kentuckiana because of a lack of gay-
friendly places to meet. Around 50
churches in the Metro Louisville area
enthusiastically identify themselves
15
 LIBERAL ON THE SAUCE

Michael Jackson & Gay Men by David Williams

The line between genius and
madness, as they say, is razor thin.
Witness Beethoven, whose musical
brilliance was in inverse proportion
to his horrible temper and the abject
squalor in which he chose to live. Or
Michelangelo, who wore the same
clothes for weeks on end. His friends
allegedly had to steal them while he
slept so they could get the stink out.
And then there’s Goya, van Gogh,
Polack, Warhol. The list goes on and
on.
Of course, not all geniuses are
mad. Einstein and Mozart were
pretty level-headed. Bill Gates seems
boring. But in the art world it doesn’t
hurt. Sometimes it seems as if art
isn’t so much an expression of human
emotions as it is the artist’s way of
resolving personal psychological
problems while the public looks on –
and applauds.
Michael Jackson could be the poster
boy there.
It seems clear that Jackson suffered
tremendous emotional torture at
the hands of his father in his early
years. His father drove the Jackson
5 relentlessly, but he seems to
have singled out Jackson, denying
him a chance to play with other
kids, making fun of his large nose,
and—who knows?—perhaps even
ridiculing the darkness of his skin.
So what happened when Jackson
got older? He hung around kids,
mutilated his nose, and changed
his skin from black to white. To
me, those are all signs Jackson was
simply getting back at his father for
the pain and ridicule he’d suffered.
That brilliant career was fueled by
deep dark psychological flames and
a pharmacy full of painkillers. In the
end, all those attempts at killing the
pain succeeded, but at what a cost to
world culture.
That urge to put his father down
may even be the reason why Jackson
proclaimed himself “King of Pop.”
Is there a double entendre there, a
subtle dig? Telling his pop that he
was in charge now? Let me pass by
the pop psychology (pardon the pun)
while I still can.
I suspect, as time passed, most
Americans resigned themselves to
Jackson’s nose jobs, his skin change,
his bizarre behavior, but they never
really got past the suspicions of
pedophilia that hounded him in his
later years and essentially ruined his
career. Their ambivalence towards
Jackson may never be entirely
resolved.
Personally, I don’t think Jackson
was a pedophile. He certainly wasn’t
gay. In actuality, he was probably
sexually stunted, his development
frozen at age 11. Unless some future
biographer comes up with solid
evidence, I see nothing sexual in his
desire to hang around little boys.
That’s because I think he looked at it
as hanging around other little boys. a problem for us. While we’ve
Journalists didn’t take to calling him danced to his music for decades,
a man-boy for nothing. that cloud of suspicion has strained
Despite all his fame and fortune, our relationship with him. Since his
in the end all he really wanted to be death, there’s been a resurgence of
was a little kid living without adult interest in his music among gays as
supervision in a Neverland of his with most Americans, but for gay
own making: no fathers allowed. men he’ll always be problematic.
Pedophilia, of course, is a touchy Rest in peace, Michael. I’m glad
subject for gay men. For decades you finally found it. As for the rest of
now, the religious right has us, we’ll have to continue wrestling
attempted to paint us as sexually with our own personal hurts until
crazed pedophiles seeking to turn such time as we join you in whatever
decent, red-blooded American boys kind of Neverland awaits.
into pansies. Many elements of the
religious right continue to use that
imagery to raise money for their David Williams is the founder of the
churches when polite suppers no Williams-Nichols Institute and the Kentucky
longer suffice. Gay & Lesbian Library and Archives, which
That’s why Jackson’s cavorting are housed at the University of Louisville’s
with little boys has always been Ekstrom Library.

HOOSIER VALUES

Volunteers Sought To Make Positive Change In Indiana by Brandon Monson

Indiana Equality Action is
searching for some very special
volunteers. We’re looking for the
right individuals to create a positive
working relationship with Indiana’s
legislators. If you can answer yes to
three simple questions, you’re who
we’re looking for:
Interested in politics?
Passionate about GLBT issues?
Interested in building a working
relationship with your legislator?
If you can answer yes to these
questions then IE Action wants
YOU to become a Key Advocate for
equality.
The goal is to create positive
working relationships with members
of the Indiana General Assembly by
means of constituent-lobbyists, called
Key Advocates. The Key Advocates
put a human face on the GLBT/
Allied community as they maintain
contact with legislators to promote
specific issues.
16 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009
Key Advocates are charged with
developing a personal/professional
relationship with a given legislator –
if possible, outside of the context of
lobbying for particular GLBT issues.
Attending trainings to become
knowledgeable about lobbying and
the complexities of the issues pursued
by IE Action is also a must.
Making sure that you’re developing
an understanding of the legislator's
personal interests and political needs
is crucial. You’ll need to meet with or
communicate with the legislator to
discuss those issues key to particular
IE Action initiatives, acting as a
conduit for equality.
Now, this job does require a certain
amount of schmoozing. You’d be
responsible for actively seeking out
opportunities to interact with the
legislator in an informal setting, for
example local social settings, political
forums, official events, meetings with
local constituents, etc.
Your help in recruiting local GLBT
persons or allies who can help lobby
the legislator is most beneficial. All
this culminates with participation
in the annual State House Equality
Day, bringing constituents to speak
with the legislator in the State House,
lobbying for legislation near and dear
to your heart.
If you think you have what it takes
and are in one of the districts we
are targeting, please contact me at
brandude4@msn.com and be sure to
type “Key Advocates” in the subject
line of your message.
Indiana Equality Action looks
forward to another exciting legislative
session next year and would love to
have you onboard!
Utah native Brandon Monson is the
Communications Director for Indiana
Equality, the Hoosier state’s premier pro-
fairness organization.
CLAMOUR UNDERBRIDGE
“Novotny? You're Not From Around Here, Are You?”
Hal Sparks
Actually. He is. It comes as a shock
to no one but me that actor Hal Sparks,
Queer as Folk's Michael Novotny, is
from Franklin County. You know,
Frankfort – the place with great big
marble government buildings and
unbridled homophobia with a dash
of the establishment of religion for
one and all. That's the one. Straight
boy from small town Kentucky plays
gay boy on TV for five seasons and is
really good at it. Film at eleven.
Well, actually not. You'll need
to rent Queer as Folk from Wild and
Wooly if you don't own it already.
You’ll probably find it in reruns on
Logo (check your local cable company
for the channel number). My point is
that you really should watch Queer as
Folk, even though it's in reruns and
all the actors have moved on to other
projects. NOTE: This is not a paid
commercial endorsement.
You should watch QAF because
it's very, very gay. Love it or hate
it. Despise the characters or decide
they're just like the lesbian womyn
and gay men that you know at the
bar or the gym, or sitting next to
you on the couch. Wonder what it
would be like to have a mom like
Debbie Novotny or Jennifer Taylor?
Would you really want to date Brian?
Seriously? How about Ben? Queer
as Folk gives you something to think
about – and then there's all of the
eye candy in each episode. Oh yes
indeed there is eye candy!
It's a gay guy-centric show so you
AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter
by James W. Hensley
gals need to brace yourself for that. I place like Liberty Avenue to at least John Barrowman, is also openly
have to admit I haven't kept up with think about? gay and had a civil union with his
The L Word, so I get there are different And that reminds me. Queer as spouse in December 2006. It's illegal
dynamics at work. All of the QAF Folk had a life before it debuted on in Kentucky but we wish him well
men are pretty; they spend a lot of Showtime. It’s actually a remake. anyway. Barrowman's character,
time at the bar and the gym. Money Queer as Folk was originally created Captain Jack Harkness, is openly
doesn't seem to be a problem for for the BBC and started out there bisexual. It's complicated. You'll
any of them and the mythical land with a two series (as in seasons) run. have to watch.
of Liberty Avenue is lined with gay Their Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh Hal Sparks was in Louisville
friendly and gay owned businesses was Canal Street, Manchester. The in February of 2009. He was the
and surrounded by a gay ghetto where names and some of the characters Valentine's Day headliner at the
you can swish down the sidewalk changed when they came across Improv Comedy Club in Fourth
holding hands and know you're the Atlantic to the US but you can Street Live. I missed it. The good
surrounded by other community- probably recognize everyone and the folks over at LEO, however, caught up
minded folks. That would be the story if you set down and watch it. with Hal and asked him how he was
queer community not the "live by The up-tight and prim were shocked doing and what was going on in his
our rules or go to hell" community by Queer as Folk UK. I guess it was life. He's in a band. He was going to
that one keeps OK for Mr. Humphries to mince skip out and visit his mom and sister
finding oneself while he was in town. He doesn't
unfortunately play Louisville very
mired in here much but has been
in Kentucky. in Lexington quite
Queer as Folk a bit.
is not exactly I did some
set in the real checking around
world. to see what the
So you only other QAF alumni
watch things are up to. Gale
set in “the Harold (Brian)
real world?” is on Desperate
Right. You Housewives now.
Randy Harrison
might want
(Justin) and
to go back
Scott Lowell
to your
(Ted) are doing
knitting.
theater. Peter
A n y w a y,
Paige (Emmett)
before Queer
is directing. Life
as Folk what
goes on.
exactly did I was surprised
we have? to discover that
Will and Russell Davies
G r a c e ? left the BBC
Yeah. OK, except in April 2009
that I get around and moved to
more than Will Hollywood. Who knows what he's
and I'm a big fat queen with across the screen in Are You Being cooking up. I'll get back to you on
smart mouth and short attention Served?, but Stuart and Nathan (their that.
span. Big Gay Al from Southpark? Brian and Justin) lock lips and the Have your say about this. Visit
Tara and Willow on Buffy the Vampire howls of outrage drowned out the clamourunderbridge.typepad.com
Slayer? Willow started out with Oz. chimes of Big Ben. You can thank to leave a comment.
Remember? Here’s a little history Russell Davies for all of this hoopla.
lesson. Queer as Folk hit the airwaves Mr. Davies went on to re-invent Dr. Rev. James Hensley is
in the US in 2000. The good citizens Who after creating Queer as Folk. He co-pastor of Progressive
of Kentucky wrote gay marriage out also created Bob and Rose (a bisexual Pathways Fellowship
of our constitution in 2004. Voters couple? It's difficult to say), and, one in Louisville. His views
in California wrote gay marriage of my favorites, Torchwood. do not necessarily
out of their constitution in 2009. Do Does it matter that Russell Davies represtant those of his
you seriously think the real world is openly gay and has a partner? You congregation.
is ready for us and we don't need a bet. The lead actor in Torchwood,
17
 GAY & FEMINIST
Censorship Maryland Style by Eric Jost
I originally wrote this column for
an online magazine that I occasionally
work with; but in an ironic twist, they
deemed it inappropriate and chose to
censor it.
The University of Maryland –
College Park, found itself in a bit
of hot water recently when word
got out that officials planned on
screening the hardcore film, Pirates
II: Stagnetti’s Revenge, as part
of a college-wide discussion on
pornography. However, Maryland
state senator, Andrew Harris
(Republican - Baltimore County),
was not going to stand for this and
immediately introduced a bill to the
Maryland Senate that would revoke
state funding from any public college
or university that sponsored the
screening of a hardcore pornographic
film.
Since Harris’ threat, UMCP
cancelled the screening, resulting in
students organizing a new viewing
of the film in defiance of Maryland’s
conservative legislators; and a chance
to speak out against censorship.
Sadly, this tactic by state legislators
to impose their ideals upon college
students seems to be only the latest
18 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009
in a growing number of similar
incidents. This past February,
Georgia’s state legislators threatened
to revoke funding from Georgia
State University because of several
sociology classes that dealt with
sexuality, queer theory, and sex work.
It seems that conservative statesman
have found a new way to impose their
ideals on the masses under the guise
of eliminating “wasteful spending”
and “protecting youth”.
Regardless of what you feel about
pornography, you can’t help but be a
little frightened at the prospect of a
government strictly controlling what
you can or cannot be exposed to at
a college that you chose to enroll in
and pay for.
I’m surprised that university
officials and Sen. Harris’ counterparts
didn’t take count of the multitude
of events and courses that might
very well offer sanctuary to those
on campus looking to escape the
hedonistic Pirates II. I’m sure that
at any given time UMCP sponsors
several religious meetings of varying
denominations, many of which
probably preach that pornography
is immoral. Certainly the student
center has a Young Republicans club
in addition to the Young Democrats.
And let’s not forget that for every
sex-positive feministlike Gayle
Rubin and Patrick Califia, there are
numerous sex-negative texts that
I’m sure a few of UMPC’s women’s
studies courses are built on.
Many of the politicians hoping
to ban porn from college campuses
or eliminate the word “queer” from
students’ vocabulary would do best to
realize that they are heading down a
very slippery slope that could hinder
their own ability to indoctrinate
young conservatives. After all, how
long before a non-Christian legislator
demands that all theology is removed
from university curriculums on the
basis of a separation of church and
state?
Just because Pirates II isn’t your
bag doesn’t mean you have the
right to make everybody watch The
Greatest Story Ever Told.
Eric Jost is a freelance
writer living in
Washington, DC. His
work ranges from
embarrassing first-
person narratives to
commentaries on queer
rights and sex positive
culture; with work having appeared in SX
(Sydney, Australia), Storyscape, $pread
Magazine, and the anthology, Beyond
Masculinity: Essays by Queer Men on
Gender and Politics. His weekly column,
“Culture Voyeur,” appears online.
You can check out more of his work at
www.eric-jost.com.
 BEYOND THERAPY
Cultivating A Sense Of Humor by Michael Kimmel
Psychological research has found
that when people list the qualities
they desire in a partner, a good sense
of humor consistently shows up
near the top. For some of us, a good
sense of humor is more important
than physical appearance or socio-
economic status. Why? Perhaps life
is so hard that a humorless partner is
too much to bear. When the road gets
rough, it’s great to have a partner you
can laugh with at all the absurdities
along the way.
University of Oregon psychologist
Robert L. Weiss studies humor in
relationships and has found that the
more a person likes his/her partner’s
sense of humor, the more satisfied
he/she will be in the relationship.
People who laugh together feel more
positive toward each other and are
more likely to give each other the
benefit of the doubt, says author
Polly Shulman in Psychology Today.
Humor can defuse tense situations
and change the mood from serious
and heavy to lighter and more
balanced. A good sense of humor
is a tangible asset …but can it
be cultivated? If you’re pretty
humorless, are you doomed to be
this way forever? Luckily, no. A
sense of humor can be developed just
like any other personality trait. This
is great news, particularly for those
of us who have been told, at some
point or another, “You have no sense
of humor” or asked, “Where’s your
sense of humor?” A sense of humor
can indeed be cultivated.
“Why bother?” you may be asking
yourself, especially if it takes a lot
of work. Ironically, having a good
sense of humor is serious business.
Humor is no silly little thing; its
Marie Davis is an internationally syndicated cartoonist. Her lesbian cartoon strip is published in five languages. Her first novel, Hey Diddle Diddle — for Lesbians and Other Grownups, can be
purchased through Amazon.com. Her e-mail address is mmmarie1961@aol.com.
AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter
part of your life force, right up there
with breathing and eating. Just
for a moment, Imagine that you
are (temporarily) having trouble
breathing. It has been proven that
telling a joke to hospital patients who
suffer from asthma or respiratory
problems helps them breathe more
easily. Humor lowers panicky
feelings that contribute to poor
breathing. In fact, a well-developed
sense of humor has been linked to
improved all-around physical and
mental health in study-after-study: it
strengthens immune systems, lowers
blood pressure, reduces stress on the
organs and
muscles,
etc.
On a perfect…
personality
level, many
of us highly
value a now
good sense
of humor.
We seek
it out in
others and
are proud
to claim it in ourselves. If someone
has a great sense of humor, isn’t it
likely that he/she is happy, confident
and has a good perspective on life?
Look at Ellen DeGeneres. The basic
message in her humor is: we’re all
alike, we find the same things funny
and we’re all in this together.
Take a few minutes and get in
touch with your own sense of humor
(or lack of it) and ask yourself:
When was the last time you
laughed? I mean REALLY laughed: a
loud, spontaneous, big belly laugh?
Make a list of things that you find
funny. It can be a person, a TV show,
movie or comedian, a comic strip…
it doesn’t matter, write down a few
things that you find funny.
Can you laugh at yourself? When
was the last time you did something
“weird” and were able to laugh at
yourself?
If it’s difficult for you to answer
these questions, I urge you to spend
some time cultivating your sense
of humor. Not only is it good for
your health, it also makes you more
attractive. People who can laugh at
themselves tell the world that they
love themselves enough that they
don’t have
to pretend
to be
that it’s
okay to fall
on your ass
and
then, grin
sheepishly,
get up and
move on.
Humor
is innately
anti-perfectionistic. Unlike
perfectionists, people with a well-
developed sense of humor know
they’re all totally human, will
inevitably screw up something
important and appear vulnerable
when they do. Humor is a form of
kindness to yourself and everyone
around you. Research shows that
people with a well developed sense
of humor live longer, much happier
lives. They’re more pleasant to
be around because they’re less
demanding of others. They make
better parents, bosses, friends and
partners. This may sound impossible
for you perfectionists reading this.
Perfectionists and other people
who are hard on themselves won’t
see the humor in their mistakes,
instead, they berate themselves
for not doing everything perfectly.
But perfectionism is a learned
characteristic and can be unlearned.
Wherever you are in your life, you
can improve your self of humor: it’s
not a fixed quality. Start small: be
willing to laugh at little things that
you find funny. It can be something
you do or something someone else
does. Watch funny movies or videos.
Ask people to tell you jokes and try
telling a few jokes on your own. Like
any skill, it takes practice. Don’t give
up after one or two tries and say, “I
can’t do it.” Persist and experiment.
After all, it’s not brain surgery: have
some fun with it!
Talk about a diverse
background, therapist
Michael Kimmel earned
a Master’s Degree
in Developmental
Psychology from Sarah
Lawrence College while
interning for Sesame
Street in New York City.
He currently resides in San Diego where
he maintains a private psychotherapy
practice and offer workshops for the
Southern Californian GLBT community.
Michael is currently editing his first book:
Life Beyond Therapy that is expected
to hit the bookstores sometime next
year. You may reach Michael through his
website: www.lifebeyondtherapy.com.
19
 PACKERS & POODLES
I Killed Michael Jackson by Christy Ikner
I’m not sure how many of you
have ever taken a road trip with a
ten-year-old, but the trick to survival
is knowing something interesting
that they don’t. Back in the old days,
that was pretty easy. My parents
always knew more than I did about
everything. I mean there was no
Internet, no “Information Highway”
that drove right through our living
room filling my head with more
ideas, trivia facts and entertainment’s
hottest new trends and people
than they could ever imagine. But
unfortunately for me and my wife
and every other parent today, this is
no longer the truth.
I’m a CNN addict, and that is
usually what is on in the house for
noise’s sake and it takes all I can do
to obtain what is going on in the
world. My kid can be sitting in his
room, playing a video game with his
ipod on and still manage to ask me
what Anderson Cooper meant by
“blah blah blah.”
So, you can imagine how excited
I was on our eight hour drive to
Alabama that I got to be his Anderson
Cooper. Yep, he has a friend who had
GAY LOVE COACH
Is He Right for Me? by Brian Rzepczynski, M.S.W.
When you’re dating someone,
it’s very important to always be on
alert to determine if you and he are
compatible for the potential for a
long-term relationship. This screening
process should be done before and
throughout the pre-commitment
phase of the relationship.
By gauging your goodness-of-fit
early on in your dating relationship,
you’ll either be laying the foundation
for a bond of trust and intimacy or
you’ll be disengaging from further
connection before becoming too
emotionally invested. It’s critical to
discover this information as early
on in your dating as possible to
avoid becoming overly-attached and
developing expectations that would
likely lead to disappointment and
grief.
In determining your compatibility
with a new guy you’re seeing, here
are three categories of questions to
consider to help with your decision-
making process:
1. Does it logically make sense for
me to be involved with this person?
20 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009
one Michael Jackson song on his iPod,
“Dirty Diana.” And my son asked me
if I knew who Michael Jackson was? If
he wants to talk old school pop I can
handle that topic! So for eight hours
I played him every Michael Jackson
song from the Anthology album.
We talked about his duet with Paul
McCartney and how that friendship
ended when Jackson purchased the
Beatles catalog. I could give him
lots of business information like this
because I worked in publishing for
years.
I shared with him fond childhood
memories of my own when the very
first record album that my mother
purchased for me was “Off The Wall.”
I told him how it folded out and made
a cool poster of Michael Jackson. And
how I was obsessed with the song
Billie Jean and would rewind my
cassette over and over and listen to it
as I rode my bike and listened to my
walkman. Now granted all of these
conversations spawned into “what
is a record” and what does “rewind”
mean, but for those eight hours I was
a media genius, an entertainment
scholar in the eyes of my son.
Does this man match my vision
and personal requirements for a
partner and a relationship? Do our
value systems and philosophies of life
mesh? Does he intellectually stimulate
me? Are we able to communicate and
dialogue well with each other? Am
I able to see him and accept him for
who he is with the knowledge that
I can’t and shouldn’t change him
to mold into my idealized image of
a boyfriend? Is he as relationship-
minded and ready as I am? Are we
able to negotiate our differences in
a proactive and productive fashion
with solid problem-solving and
anger management skills? Do we
complement each other well?
2. Do we have a solid emotional
connection?
Do we have a strong friendship
base? Do we have a special feeling
of bonding and closeness that draws
us together? Are we able to share
our thoughts and feelings with each
other without fear of judgment or
rejection? Am I able to be vulnerable
with him? Are we empathic toward
I rode that high all the way into
the next day frolicking in the sun
and reminding him how the lyrics
to “Beat It” went as we swam in
the pool on our vacation. We were
even discussing how cool it was that
Jackson had Slash play guitar on
“Black Or White” as we floated about
on our new floats, when from the
shallow end of the pool came some
shrill little voice with a taunting You-
so-stupid-sing-songy tone saying,
“Michael Jackson is dead.”
True to my music industry roots
I replied, “He’s about to revive his
career with a 50 date comeback
tour.”
“No he ain’t, he’s dead!” My son
continued, “He died this morning.
His heart stopped.”
I saw the look on my son’s face, so
before I put the energy into grappling
with this emotional breakdown I
said, “Lets go to the room and turn
on CNN…Anderson will tell us the
truth.”
Back at the room, “…YOU KILLED
MICHAEL JACKSON!!” My son
was in the throws of an emotional
breakdown. His new found media
each other and able to validate each
other’s feelings? Are we emotionally
available to each other? Do we strive
to meet each other’s needs and devote
time and energy to cultivating our
relationship? Are we able to strike
a balance between togetherness
and independence without feeling
threatened and find this juggling act
to be a source of enrichment for our
relationship? Do I like the man that I
am when I’m around him? Do I have
a sense of pride with this man whom
I’m becoming involved?
3. Do we have a mutual feeling of
chemistry with each other?
Am I sexually and emotionally
attracted to this man? Do we share
a passionate sexual life with each
other that is satisfying and erotically
fulfilling? Can we be playful with
each other and laugh? Do I think of
him often and miss him when he’s not
around? Do we positively feed off of
each other with our personalities and
experience a sense of vibrant energy
whenever we’re together?
An affirmative “YES” to all of
crush was no longer for the world
and for this very moment he was
blaming me…what the hell?!
“You told me everything you
knew about him…made me love
him… and now he’s dead. Don’t
ever tell me about anybody else who
is awesome!!”
So just like that, my reign as an
entertainer scholar in my son’s eyes
came to a crashing halt. He truly
believes that I killed Michael Jackson,
so when he is getting on my nerves I
just say, “Hey don’t make me tell you
about The Jonas Brothers.” Although
if I really had the power to remove
entertainers from the earth…that
wouldn’t be a bad place to start.
Live and Love Equally!
Christy lives in Nashville, TN where she
works with her wife in the Real Estate and
marketing industry. Additionally she oversees
the daily marketing and sales of her gay
apparel company, Packers & Poodles,
LLC. In her spare time she is an active
volunteer in the local chapter of the national
organization, The Human Rights Campaign.
these questions is definitely a good
sign that you and your new guy
are well on your way to being a
great match! Any discrepancies that
may exist will need to be evaluated
against your personal requirements.
Are any incompatibilities negotiable,
or are they absolute deal-breakers?
Be honest and stay true to yourself
and your values! Settling will only
lead to an ultimate loss of fulfillment,
resentment, and sacrifice that will
erode your quality of life.
And don’t forget: just because
someone you start seeing may not
turn out to be good dating material
after going through this assessment
process, he may actually be a better
candidate for a friend or business
contact. Happy screening!
©2008 Brian L. Rzepczynski, All rights
reserved. To sign up for the FREE Gay
Love Coach Newsletter filled with dating
and relationship tips and skills for
gay singles and couples, as well as to
check out current coaching groups,
programs, and teleclasses, visit www.
TheGayLoveCoach.com.
 DINING OUT
The Kentucky State Fair – I’m In It To Win It!
Sometimes the most tasty and
decadent of treats are not found in
this city’s bakeries or prepared by the
most revered pastry chefs. Cakes,
pies, tarts and other baked items that
are equally delicious and perhaps
created by someone you know are on
display this month at the Kentucky
State Fair.
Starting August 20 and running
through August 30, this illustrious
event showcases cooks, artisans,
craftsmen, farmers and other skilled
individuals from our state who wish
to share his or her talents with us
fairgoers. I have been lucky enough
to participate in the Fair for the past
15 years and have been fortunate
enough to win at least 1 ribbon in
14 of those 15 years. My area of
expertise lies within the Culinary
Department although I have recently
branched out into Textiles with not
too much success. For the past few
years my daughters have also been
entering the Junior Culinary category
and garnering a few ribbons for
themselves. It is a family affair, after
all.
Obviously some cooking ability
is necessary to win, place or show.
However, there are some valuable
lessons to learn as you enjoy the Fair
this year to enhance your chances
of winning next year. Never enter a
popular category as your probability
of winning is sure to be shot down by
the numerous ladies and gentlemen
with generous Fair experience.
Brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies
and Yeast Bread are all definite no-
no’s. You need to carefully review
the different cases of food in the
exhibition hall as well as be familiar
with the particular baking categories
to find those divisions with the
fewest entries.
My first year I entered meringue
pies only to be disappointed to find
that my lovely pies did not pass
muster with the judges. My pies
were lost in a display case of 30 or so
similar sweets. When I competing
the following year, I entered date nut
bars and divinity candy and happily
won two second place ribbons as well
as a check for a whopping $8.00.
I have continued to work my theory
throughout the years and have won a
AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter
by Beth Ann Rubin
minimum of 1 ribbon a year for such to review all the entries and make
varied items as vegetable quiche, their decisions. You do not know
artisan bread, all butter pound cake, if you have won anything in this
Black Forest torte and others. My department until you go to the Fair
greatest success was my blue ribbon and find your entries in the many
for barbequed chicken pizza. Yes, cases. And when you do find
there is a pizza category and there your food, remember that is has
are never too many entries. Once I been sitting there for at least 4
hit that first place, the pizza category days and the decaying process
was struck from my Fair repertoire. may have already started. Some
You can’t do better than Number of the cases are refrigerated but
One! that does not deter the flies or the
Another thing you might not process of time from impacting
know about the Fair entry process the appearance of your food.
is that your food item(s) need to It is always fun to go the Fair
be delivered to the fairgrounds the towards the end when some
weekend before the Fair actually of the entries have so
opens. This allows the judges’ time severely decomposed
Spiced Pumpkin Cheesecake
Crust: 1 ½ cups pecans, toasted and cooled
3 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp melted better they have been removed from the
¼ tsp ground cinnamon cases. There is a reason why no one
returns to claim their food entry after
Filling: 3 8-oz packages cream cheese, room temperature the Fair has ended!
1 ¼ cup sugar This year I am entering Chocolate
1 tsp finely grated lemon peel Raspberry Petit Fours. I entered last
4 large eggs year and won a 3rd place ribbon
1 15-oz can pure pumpkin and am trying to improve upon that
½ cup plain yogurt this year. I am also taking a stab at
preserves with a drunken fig jam and
2 tbsp flour
caramel pear butter. Wish me luck!
1 tsp vanilla extract I am including my recipe for an
1 tsp ground cinnamon award winning cheesecake which
¾ tsp ground ginger I entered in the “Your Favorite
¼ tsp ground nutmeg Cheesecake (other than plain)”
¼ tsp ground cloves category. Enjoy!!To Win It!
Large pinch of salt
FOR CRUST: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-inch spring
Beth Ann Rubin
form pan. Grind first 4 ingredients in processor until nut mixture
has been
sticks together. Press evenly onto bottom of pan. Bake crust until
reviewing
golden, about 15 minutes. Cool completely.
restaurants
for THE LETTER
FOR FILLING: Using mixer, beat cream cheese, sugar and lemon
for nearly four
peel in large bowl until smooth. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then
years. A Chicago
pumpkin, yogurt, flour, vanilla, spices and salt. Pour into pan.
native, Beth Ann and her family live
Place into oven.
just south of Louisville's Highlands
Bake cheesecake 1 hour 15 minutes or until browned on sides but
neighborhood. A talented cook in her
not yet set in middle. Remove from oven onto baking rack and
own right, over the years her baked
allow to sit until cooled. Remove sides of spring form pan and
goods have earned her numerous
wrap in plastic. Allow to refrigerate overnight before serving.
awards at the Kentucky State Fair.
21
 KENNETH C. PLOTNIK
Attorney at Law
607 West Ormsby Avenue
Louisville, Kentucky 40203 Fax: (502) 634-0576
What Path Calls You?
clamourunderbridge.typepad.com
INFORM
YOUR PARTNER
StopTheSpreadOnline.org
To stop the cycle of STD’s growing
in our community, sexual partners need
to be tested and if necessary treated.
22 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009
(502) 636-0361
THE LETTER
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VIDEO
REVIEWS
BY DAVE VANDERPOL
I Love You, Man
If you insist on
only watching
gay-centric films,
then probably
I Love You, Man
is not for you.
While it features
a couple of
gay characters,
straights rule
in this hilarious
comedy about
one man’s
search for an
intimate, but non-sexual
(don’t laugh!) relationship with another male
(a/k/a “bromance”).
The movie begins Peter Klaven (Paul Rudd)
down on bended-knee proposing marriage
to Zooey, the woman of his dreams. One
problem: he has no close male friend to serve
as his Best Man. So our poor buddy-deprived
straight man goes out on a series of awkward
“man-dates”, hoping to spark a close man-
on-man friendship. But it is a chance meeting
(isn’t it always?) that leads to his finding the
man-love he has been searching for. Sydney
Fife (Jason Segel) and Peter immediately
bond. The new bromance is not without
complications, as it ultimately leads to tension
between the otherwise happily engaged
couple. Will Peter have to choose between
Sydney and Zooey?
I highly recommend this film because it
is one of the funniest films I’ve seen in a long
time and because I am fascinated with why
straight men find it difficult to emotionally
bond with other men –gay or straight. Dare
we suggest the obstacle might be internalized
homophobia? Ya’ think? According to
this flick, straight guys can create as much
needless drama as gay men!
Released on August 11 (on both DVD and
Blu-Ray), I Love You, Man is available at Wild
& Woolly Video, 1021 Bardstown Road in
Louisville.
Oh and Sydney, thanks for the “creative
suggestion” for a new use for condoms!
 Ms. Bluegrass Classic
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AUGUST 2009 www.theletteronline.com The Letter 23

24 The Letter www.theletteronline.com AUGUST 2009